It takes a lot of liquid to "wash" the inside of your body. Taking it in
the form of herbal teas gives you extra benefits. And extra enjoyment if
you learn to make them with variations - especially if you need to
produce a gallon of urine a day!

Any edema or "water holding", whether in lungs, arms, or abdomen, also
requires strengthening of kidneys with this recipe.

When kidneys or
bladder are actually involved in the cancer, gradually increase the dose
to double the regular amounts. Be sure to start just as slowly though to
avoid feeling pressure in the bladder. You will need:

You will get a pot of fresh parsley-water with a kidney formula at the
kitchen close to the dining hall with a pinch of
vitamin B2.

Dose: Each morning, pour together 3/4 (three fourths) cup of the root mixture
and 1/2 (half) cup parsley water, filling a large mug. Add 20 drops of
kidney cleansing tincture and any spice, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.
Then add a pinch of B2. Drink this mixture in divided doses throughout
the day. Keep it cold. Do not drink it all at once or you will get a
stomach-ache and feel pressure in your bladder. If your stomach is very
sensitive, start on half the dose.

Also take:

Ginger capsules:
one with each meal (3/day) (3 per day).

Kidney Formula
Capsules:
one capsule in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening.

Vitamin B6 (250mg): one a day.

Magnesium oxide (300mg): one a day.

Take these supplements just before your meal to avoid burping. You do
not need to duplicate the B6 and magnesium doses if you are already on
them.

Some notes on this
recipe:
This herbal tea, as well as the parsley, can easily spoil. Reheat to
boiling every third day if it is being stored in the refrigerator. If
you sterilize it in the morning you may take it to work without
refrigerating it (use a glass container).

How would you
convince those who have tried and failed many fad diets like Atkins and
South Beach that the Coconut Diet isn't just another fad diet?

Fad diets come and
go -- they're fads because they don't work long term. The Coconut Diet
is a way of eating that individuals can follow for a lifetime of good
health and weight management. The diet focuses on replacing vegetable
oils that are fattening and not healthful, such as corn, soybean, canola
and safflower oil, with virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.

After all the bad
press concerning coconut oil, it turns out that it is actually heart
healthy and slimming. But The Coconut Diet doesn't stop there. It
promotes eating lots of fresh vegetables and it doesn't toss the carrots
and beets out with the potato chips, as other low-carb diets do.

The Coconut Diet
is about eating plenty of brightly colored vegetables that are rich in
antioxidants, and whole foods versus refined ones. It eliminates high-glycemic-index
foods such as refined flour products, white rice, white potatoes and
sweets. The Coconut Diet doesn't recommend artificial sweeteners such as
NutraSweet or sucralose (Splenda), which are detrimental to one's
health, but rather recommends healthy low-carb sweeteners such as stevia.

You talked about
the tropical islanders early in the book and the many health benefits
they experienced from adding coconut oil to their diets. Were there less
documented incidences of cancer and heart disease in the populations of
the tropical islanders?

Yes, there were
fewer incidences of cancer, heart disease and obesity among the
islanders studied. One example can be found in the 1960s studies that
were conducted in the South Pacific islands of Pukapuka and Tokelau near
New Zealand. These populations ate only natural foods (no refined
foods). Coconut foods were the most prevalent, being consumed at each
meal in one form or another.

While most people
in the West were consuming 30 percent to 40 percent of their calories as
fat, these islanders averaged between 50 percent and 60 percent of their
calories from fat from coconuts. The overall health of both groups was
extremely good compared with Western standards. There were no signs of
kidney disease, hypothyroidism or hypercholesterolemia; digestive
problems were rare and constipation was uncommon.

Also, other
diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart disease, colitis, colon cancer,
hemorrhoids, ulcers, diverticulosis and appendicitis were uncommon. The
inhabitants were lean and healthy despite the high-fat diet. They had
ideal weight-to-height ratios as compared to the Body Mass Index.

Some people worry
about dietary fat and heart disease. Is there any correlation between
coconut oil and heart disease?

P. K. Thampan, the
former chief coconut development officer of the Coconut Development
Board in India, studied traditional cultures that consumed large amounts
of coconut. In his book Facts and Fallacies About Coconut Oil, Thampan
shows that coconut oil is unrelated to coronary heart disease morbidity
and mortality, which is contrary to what is taught in Western culture.

In 1998, the
Department of Medicine in India conducted a study at the Safdarjang
Hospital in New Delhi, comparing traditional cooking oils such as
coconut oil and ghee (clarified butter) with modern polyunsaturated oils
such as safflower and sunflower oil in relation to the prevalence of
heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They found that heart disease and
diabetes had actually increased after a decrease in consumption of
traditional cooking oils (coconut oil and ghee) and the introduction of
polyunsaturated oils.

They concluded
that these modern, presumably "heart friendly" polyunsaturated oils
actually possessed an undesirable ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty
acids, which contributes to health problems. Other similar studies in
the region indicated that the sole use or excessive intake of these
modern vegetable oils were detrimental to one's health.

In 2003, Drs. P
Rethinam and Muhartoyo wrote in the Jakarta Post that before 1950 heart
attacks were uncommon in Sri Lanka. However, from 1970 to 1992, hospital
admission rates for heart attack grew dramatically, which they conclude
might be explained by the fact that coconut consumption had drastically
decreased from 132 coconuts per person per year in 1952 to 90 per person
in 1991.

What
recommendations would you offer in terms of making good food choices
when dining out while following The Coconut Diet?

Here are the tips
I have to offer when dining out, which my husband and I practice:

Request
that the server not bring any tempting hot bread or rolls to
the table

Order
extra vegetables in place of white rice or mashed potatoes

Skip the
dessert

Thai food
is great, but be sure to take a pass on the white rice

Avoid
pasta places

If
sandwiches are about the only fare, request the filling
without the bun, roll or bread. (Some restaurants offer
lettuce wraps -- lettuce leaves with fillings and dipping
sauces)

Main
course salads are good choices

For
breakfast most restaurants can substitute salad greens for
the potatoes

What about
pregnant women and The Coconut Diet?

Pregnancy is not
the time to diet for weight loss or to detoxify the body. If you are
pregnant, I would recommend either Phase III or IV of The Coconut Diet.
This is a very healthful program for anyone including those who are
pregnant. I would recommend simply exchanging virgin coconut oil and
extra virgin olive oil for all other cooking oils; there is no need to
consume extra coconut oil over what you would normally use in food
preparation.

Any tips for
parents and families who want to know the easiest way to incorporate The
Coconut Diet in their lives?

I would recommend
simply exchanging virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil for all
other cooking oils and follow the basic food plan in The Coconut Diet.
It's very easy to incorporate with plenty of recipes for busy families
to enjoy such as healthy hamburgers, super speedy supper and golden
chicken.

Was there any
specific reasoning behind choosing a 21-day weight-loss plan?

The 21-day weight
loss plan is designed to offer the best weight loss opportunity. It's
strict and designed to kick-off the weight loss program with three weeks
that should produce encouraging weight loss results -- about three
pounds per week. Most people notice a number of exciting health
improvements during this time such as an increase in energy, better
sleep and increased mental performance. It often takes about three weeks
to begin experiencing significant health changes.

Is there any
average weight-loss one could expect to lose after following the 21-day
program or is it very dependent on the individual?

Though it is
dependent on the individual, most people report a weight loss of about
three pounds per week. Some people have lost considerably more weight
than that. Other people seem to be stuck and unable to lose weight no
matter what they do. In this case, I recommend that they follow the
dietary plan of Phase I and incorporate Phase II, which is the cleansing
(detoxification) program that includes the colon cleanse, liver cleanse,
gallbladder cleanse and kidney cleanse.

Many people have
discovered that when their organs of elimination are cleansed and
performing more efficiently, weight comes off naturally. If weight loss
is still slow, there may be specific conditions such as candadiasis or
hypothyroid that should be addressed. I cover such conditions in
Chapters 4 and 5 of The Coconut Diet and there are quizzes to help in
determining if any of these conditions apply.

You mentioned that
The Coconut Diet could help women with PMS symptoms. What other health
conditions specifically related to women does the coconut diet help?
What about specific health-issues related to men?

Chronic fatigue
syndrome, fibromyalgia, candidiasis and hypothyroid seem to plague more
women than men. The Coconut Diet has helped improve all these
conditions. The Coconut Diet appears to be very heart healthy, which is
excellent for men. There are a number of stories in The Coconut Diet
from people who have actually seen their cholesterol -- LDL and
triglycerides -- go down and HDL (the good cholesterol) go up with The
Coconut Diet.

What's the best
way to get the full sleep benefits coconut oil has to offer rather than
experiencing the opposite -- extra energy?

One of the
benefits many people report after starting The Coconut Diet is better
sleep. Some people experience exceptional energy with The Coconut Diet;
they have found that they cannot eat coconut oil in the evening or they
will experience too much energy and find it hard to fall asleep. It is
advisable to start adding in coconut oil slowly. Some people have
started with just one teaspoon, others with one tablespoon per day.

In a testimonial
one woman said she was hesitant about the taste of coconut oil in foods
such as eggs and in stir-fry. What advice would you give to those either
not fond of the taste of coconut or hesitant about how it may change the
taste of their foods?

Most people have
found that cooking with coconut oil makes the food taste better and
blends well with other flavors. Actually, the oil doesn't taste like
coconut. From ethnic dishes to eggs and vegetables, coconut oil doesn't
alter flavor unfavorably. Most people say they really enjoy meals
prepared with coconut oil.

A number of the
recipes are dishes I prepare at home for my husband and myself such as
curried chicken salad, turkey roll-ups and Thai coconut salmon. Other
recipes such as the lemon-tarragon fish, Indian coconut vegetable curry,
and wild rice and butternut squash pilaf were designed by chefs -- three
chefs in all contributed recipes.

How important is
it to incorporate cleansing into The Coconut Diet program?

I have observed
that the cleansing programs are very important to ideal weight
management and vibrant health. For example, the liver, which is the
filter system of the body and the fat-burner, cannot burn fat as
efficiently as it should when it is congested with toxins. Once the
liver is cleansed, people often find that weight loss is accelerated.

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient's medical condition.

In no event will the DrEddyClinic.com be liable for any decision made or action taken in reliance upon the information provided through this web site.